[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 61 (Monday, April 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E471-E472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN RECOGNITION OF LENNIE GOTCHER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2018

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Lennie Gotcher who will be 
presented with the 2018 Citizen of the Year Award from the Associated 
Parents' Group of Hillsborough. Lennie is a role model for all of us in 
the community and an integral part of our town.
  Lennie's roots in Hillsborough run deep. She grew up here and she and 
her husband Peter raised their four children here. Her volunteer work 
began in the schools her sons attended; first at South when her oldest 
son was in preschool, then at North Preschool and Crocker Middle School 
where she spent countless hours in the classroom and at events.
  In addition to being a devoted mother and wife, Lennie is passionate 
about gardening and to say that she has a green thumb and comprehensive 
understanding of organic farming is an understatement. Lennie had the 
vision and perseverance to create the Harvest Garden, known as the 
crown jewel of Hillsborough. In 2010, she worked with the San Francisco 
Public Utilities Commission, the Hillsborough Beautification Foundation 
(HBF), the Town Public Works Director and the Town Council to get the 
project approved. Not only did she create a beautiful garden growing 
fresh produce, she turned the project into a learning experience for 
students. She oversaw a group of high school students cleaning a vacant 
lot and soliciting donations from the community. Today, the Harvest 
Garden offers an internship program for high school students, workshops 
for community members and volunteer programs for the local schools, the 
Boy Scouts, the National Charity League and the Young Men's Service 
League. All of the work is done by volunteers who have produced over 
9,000 pound of organic vegetables that

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have been donated to homeless shelters and the working poor. We can 
proudly say that the Harvest Garden grows produce and community.
  As a very active member of HBF since 2002, Lennie was also the 
driving force behind the Marilyn Hills Garden at Crocker and the 
renovation of Vista Park. She was President of HBF from 2004 to 2006 
and has been recognized as Volunteer of the Year. She completed the 
California Master Gardener Program, serves on the Board of Trustees of 
the Filoli Center, and she has been a member of the Hillsborough Garden 
Club for 16 years.
  You may surmise from this intense list of volunteer work that it 
doesn't allow time for anything else, but you are mistaken. Lennie 
found the time and energy to co-found a start-up in 2006 that produces 
mobility aids.
  Lennie, born in San Francisco, earned her BA from UC Berkeley. She 
married Peter in 1987 and they have four sons, Miles, John, Will and 
Gray.
  Lennie's dedication and love for her community knows no bounds. She 
tirelessly and patiently works on making Hillsborough a better and more 
beautiful place to live for all residents. Her ability to lead and to 
quietly work behind the scenes makes her an extraordinarily effective 
community leader.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the members of the House of Representatives to 
rise with me to recognize a woman who nurtures everyone and everything 
around her. Lennie Gotcher is truly an exceptional citizen and the Town 
of Hillsborough is fortunate to call her one of their own.

                          ____________________